Ya’alon: IDF destroyed 80% of Hamas rockets in Gaza war

Defense minister says cabinet did debate the question of re-occupying Gaza, but decided such a step was not necessary.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon (photo credit: MESHULAM LEVY, BESA CENTER)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon
(photo credit: MESHULAM LEVY, BESA CENTER)
The IDF destroyed 80% of the rockets and mortars in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge this summer, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Monday.
The Palestinians and the international community have charged that Israel indiscriminately bombed Gaza during the 50 day military operation in July and August.
But Ya’alon said that out of the 7,000 terrorist targets that were hit, 5,000 of them were attacked from the air by precision fire.
The order was given for a ground operation only once it was clear that there was no other way to destroy the tunnels, Ya’alon said.
Israel had international legitimacy for its military operation in Gaza to halt Hamas rocket and tunnel attacks on Israel, Ya’alon said.
Evidence of that support can be seen in the absence of any UN Security Council interference, Ya’alon said.
The cabinet did debate the question of re-occupying Gaza, which had been under Israel military control from 1967 to 2005. But it decided that such a step was not necessary, he said.
Ya'alon spoke at a conference, "Military and Political Lessons of Operation Protective Edge," that was hosted by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan.